Cigar-box moistener and cover



Feb. 21, 1928. 1,660,240

- P. H. SUKERT CIGAR BOX MOISTENER AND COVER Filed May 14. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY Feb. 21, 1928. 1,660,240

P; H. SUK ERT CIGAR BOX MOISTENER AND COVER File M y 14. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet -2 Patented Feb.'2l, 3.928.

UNITED [STATES PHILIP H. SUKERT, OF. CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CIGAR-BOX lvrorsrmmn AND covnn.

Application filed May 14, 1926. Serial No. 109,168.

This inventionrelates to attachments for cigar boxes andmore particularly to a cigar box moistener and cover.

One of the main objects of the invention is to'provide a device. of the character stated of simple and eflicient construction which can be readily applied and can be produced at comparatively small cost. A further object is to provide a device of this character so constructed that the moistener unit can be used either separately or in combination with a cover member, as desired. Another object is to provide simple and eflicient means whereby a cover member of glass or other suitable transparent material can be readily replacedwhennecessary or desired. Further objects will appear from the detailed description.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1- is a perspective view of the device as applied.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view through the device as applied, the cigar box being partly broken away'and shown in section.

Fig. 3. is a perspective underneath view of the device.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective underneath view of a corner portion of the device, the cover member being omitted.

Fig. 5 is a section taken substantially on line 5-5 of F ig. 4.

The moistener device includes a box-likev casing 1 of rectangular cross section formed of sheet metal and provided at each end with hook-elements 2 extending rearwardly from rear wall 1 of casing 1. These hook elements are disposed to fit about the end portions of lid a of a cigar box A of stand ard construction, thus providing simple and eiiicient means for attaching the device to the lid of the box. The casing is provided in its lower wall with a longitudinally extending slot 3 and a bottom wall 4 extending rearwardly from the front wall l of the casing. The casing is further provided with end walls 5 separated from the back wall 1 by slots 6. The casing constructed in this manner is adapted for reception of a strip 7 of absorbent materialsuoh as sponge, or other suitable material. This strip is dampened and, when the device is applied, air enters the casing through slot 6 in each end thereof and flows over the moistened strip of absorbent material so as to cause evaporation of the moisture contained therein. This evaporation causes cooling 'ofthe air resulting in down current of moistened air which flows through the slot 3 into box A and serves to moisten the cigars contained in the box so as to prevent them fromubecoming dry and brittle. I

. The moistening device is intended for use in connection with acover frame 8 of channel cross section which is-open at its rearward side and iseut to provide upper tabs 9, side tabs 10 and lower tabs 11. This frame receives a closure member 12 ofglass or other suitable transparent material which is insert-ed into the frame from the rearward side thereof. Afterthis glass has been inserted it is secured in position by bending the tabs 10 inwardly so as toabut the rear ward edge of the glass, as illustrated in Fig. 3., The bottom wall 4 is cut at each end to provide a securing tab 13. In initially .as sembling the complete structure the glass is inserted in-the frame 8 and secured therein inthe manner described,.after which this frame is positioned so thatthe rearward ends of tabs 9 contact with the rearward wall 1 of easing 1, the upper faces of the end arms of the frame being in contact with the under face of the bottom wall 4. The tabs 13 are then bent inwardly over the end can be quickly secured to the casing 1 so as to form therewith a'complete structure. desired, the frame can first be secured to casing 1 after which the glass closure 12 can be inserted, as will be clear from Fig. 4, tabs 10 being then bent inwardly into the positions illustrated in Fig. 3. If it becomes necessary or desirable at any time to remove the closure12this can be readily accomplished by bending the tabs 10 outward- 1y as in Fig. 4. This permits the closure 12' to be withdrawn after which another closure canbe inserted into the frame and secured in the manner previously described. It is also to be noted that the frame Scan be readily detached from casing 1 if for any purpose this becomes desirable.

This device is applied to box A by inserting the lid 64 of the box into the hook members 2, moving the casing 1 downwardly along the lid until the frame 8 with its closure member 12 rests upon the upper edge of box A so as to form a closure therefor,

as in Figs. :1 and 2. 'When it-is'desired' to open the box,: cover A is tilted F backw-ardly raising the frame 8 and closure l2permitting ready access to the box. As the frame 8 extends forwardly from'the lower edge of the casing l, the weightofrthisiframe and the closure member carried therebyis suflicient to move the closure memberzinto closed posltion by gravity when 11d a is released.

-rlNhen the-closureimember is in normal'or lowered position'the moisture from strip 7 ment,{'antl-:the' parts are soassociatedthat the closure structure ;can be detached Efrom or secured to the moistener structure as de- -sir.ed.

WVhat I'clairn is:

1.In adevice of the character stated, a "casing adapted forreception ofan absorbent material and having: an openingv at its ilower side, means 'for attachingsthe casing to a cigar 1boX 'lid,:a frameof channel construc- =tion open atone side-and provided Withltabs iextending fromsaid frame at the open side #thereof, a closure member mounted in the iframe, certain of said tabs 'acting to retain :the closure member in the frame, vand tabs vcarried by the casing and bent into ill'ltQY- docking-relation with theretaining tabs of the frameand cooperating therewith for :de-

=tachably seouringvthe zframe to .tlie'casing.

:2. In .a device of the class described, a basing-comprising a [front wall,-.a :rear wall, and end walls separated from the' rear wall by slots, said fIOIlli'WEI-ll having aflange portion: extending transversely of the open lbottomof thecasing toprovide together with the rear wall a longitudinally extending slot,

.means for attaching the casing to a cigar box lid, an absorbent member confined in the casing and'supported by said flange, in combination Withwa closure member, and means including a channel shaped frame for detaehably securing said closure member to said casing.

3. zljnza-rcigar boxanoistener, a casing haviing end and bottom iwallsr :vprovided with communicating slots, means for .slidably :con- :necting the easing to: a cigarbox lid, and an absorbent member COIlfiIlGClfiIl saidcasing. -'In aseigarrbo-X moistener,':a casingrhav ing .end and "bottom "walls provided with communicating slots, means for islidably 'cconnecting the casing tora eigiarrbox lid; and .an absorbent member confined:inesaidiieasing, in .combin-ation wvith a closure :member, and

7 means including a channel shape'diframe for 1 detachably COilIlGCbll'lgi theiclosure memberto sa id teasing.

V i 5. In a cigar box moistener, La 'caSing'Ein- 1 eluding :a front and wear "wall, sand Walls separated :from f the 'rear Wallvby slots: in the end walls and a slot in thef'bottom -wallrof said casing, said rear wallrhaving-xend por ations bent backuponrtherrearwall to pro vide hooks adapted for s'lidable connection with thelidof the eigarrbox, ai'closiurez-mem- .ber, .means'. providing -conne.ction between said closuremember and said; casing,: and an absorbent member confined in said casing.-

\6. In :a cigar box .moistener, a casing-including a front-and rear wall, and walls separated from the rear Wallaby slots inithe end .walls and aislot-in 'the bottom Wall "of said casing,:saidirearuwall having end porition slbentba'ckupon .theirear -wa1lto provide hoolrs adapted for slidablec'onnection with rthe' lid of :the .cigarboX, and ian-ia'bsorbent nnember lCOIlfiIlGCl in said casing.

in testimony whereof I 2' affixmy signature.

PHILIP H. *SUKERT. 

